October 17, 2014

In the school holidays we took the children north of Masterton to Cwmglyn Farm (pronounced Coom-Glin) where Biddi the owner makes the most exquisite cheese from her free range cows. The sweetener for the children is the Middleton Model Railway located on the same property and run by Biddi's husband.

While you taste the cheeses the children get to push buttons and make the model trains go round and round the tracks.

A must visit and of course to purchase some cheese straight from the source.

January 04, 2013

Our four day holiday at the beach turned into a week! The children had a fantastic time, although we experienced four seasons in one day ~ typical of New Zealand weather. One moment it would be sunny, then gale force winds, we got caught in thunderstorms and then experienced the most beautiful harvest moons in the evening. It didn't bother the children either way, they still went swimming every day, made sandcastles, explored the landscape and wildlife and went fishing.

August 21, 2012

On Sunday we had another family adventure. I've been keeping this trip for when the children were a bit older, but thought we would give it a go. My parents took us here when we were about 7 or 8 years old. The last time I was here Ian and I had just met and I use to take him on these crazy outings, places he had never been before.

The Putangirua Pinnacle walk follows a stream bed up into a valley where you discover incredible towers of rock. They are breath taking and the photographs don't do their natural wonderment justice. This is a must see! They are naturally made by time, erosion, wind and rain.

If you are Peter Jackson fan you might recognise the location in his movie Brain Dead or more likely from the movie Return of the King where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli ride along the Dimholt Road to meet the Army of the Dead.

The walk isn't too hard, but you do have to pick your path carefully along the river bed. Be prepared for muddy and wet feet. I wouldn't really recommend taking small children unless you're prepared to carry them some of the way or if they are use to walking distances. Charlie and Sadie have been groomed to walk tracks, while Oscar still needs a little help. Good shoes are needed, a water bottle and take a light snack with you. It can get cold so be prepared.

Oscar called the pillars 'castles' and he said we were 'looking for treasure' and then he got all scared because of the 'dragons'. Fantastic imagination, but in a way it felt so airy he could of been right about the dragons!

It's a thoughtful but beautiful tale of a young man who leaves his home and family and travels far across the seas as a soldier in the Great War. His journey entwines with another great journey of a local eel as it too travels far to it's breeding grounds in the Pacific Ocean ~ both eel and soldier never to return.

While the baby eels made their way back to the river of it's parents a memorial bridge was erected in memory of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the war ~ and was named 'Anzac Memorial Bridge'.

The story stirred thoughtful contemplation within both Sadie and Charlie with them both agreeing that (in Charlie's words) "everything has a life cycle".

What made this story even more interesting is that Anzac Bridge is a real bridge located north of Masterton in the small community of Kaiparoro. So we decided to make a family pilgrimage to visit the place where the story was inspired.

The bridge was opened in 1922 and has a lovely Art Deco style to it. Names of those honoured are listed and it was exciting for the children to compare the illustrations to the real bridge itself.

Under the bridge is a perfect home for eels. We didn't think to bring some meat with us, it would of been fun to lure any eels out of their hiding places.

Daddy played a trick on the children by finding a piece of driftwood that looked just like an eel!

GIVEAWAY...

Wairarapa Archive has kindly offered my Heart Felt readers the chance to win their own copy of 'The eels of Anzac Bridge".

July 12, 2011

Charlie and I had a marvellous time up in Auckland. His first plane ride was exciting and exhilarating. He shouted out 'Yee Ha!' as we took off which made the whole plane chuckle.

Grandpa met us at the airport and he took us out for dinner. Charlie said it was the best meal he had ever had.

The next morning Charlie met his pen-pal Billy. Billy and Charlie share the same birthday, so it was great to finally meet him, his brother Arlo, Gabrielle and Ange. Billy showed Charlie how to play pinball, he had a great time.

That afternoon we went to Kelly Talton's Aquarium. Charlie has now added Marine Biologist to his list of career options (which also include Archaeologist, Paleontologist and Vulcanologist)

Auckland is a volcanic area and Charlie was fascinated with the rocks and earth formation. We went on some beautiful walks.